physiological effects of some essential oils in comparison with 8-hydroxyquinoline in cut lisianthus flowers (eustoma grandiflorum l.)

in order to study the physiological effects of some of the essential oils in comparison with 8-hydroxyquinoline in cut lisianthus flowers (eustoma grandiflorum l.), an experimental was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. traetments included 8-hydroxyquinoline, essential oil of australian cheesewood (pittosporum undudatum) and rosmary oil(rosmarinus officinalis) at the two concentrations 200 and 300 mg/l and zataria oil (zataria multiflora) at two levels of 50 and 100 mg/l. all this treatments was used in combination with sucrose 3% and three treatments of distilled water, ethanol at 500 ppm and 3% sucrose as control treatments. the results showed that treating with 8-hydroxyquinoline at a concentration of 300 mg/l had maximum vase life (18.4 days) compared to the control (distilled water 10.3, ethanol 10.8 and sucrose 3% 12.1) treatments. among  essential oils, australian cheesewood at a concentration of 300 mg/l, rosmary oil at a concentration of 200 mg/l and zataria oil at a concentration of 100 mg/l had vase life of 15.8, 15.6 and 15.5, days, respectively which was significantly higher than control. the rosmary oil at a concentration of 200 mg/l had the maximum effects on total chlorophyll. 8-hydroxyquinoline and then, essential oil of australian cheesewood at a concentration of 300 mg/l had the maximum effects on anthocyanin, protein, malondialdehyde and enzyme levels. according to the results, using essential oils instead of chemical compounds can be an effective way to improve vase life of cut lisianthus flowers.